Alejandra Diaz and Xavier Mendoza hold balloons with the numbers 1 and 3 during the Celebrate San Antonio event to welcome in the new year. Although the evening was wet, revelers’ spirits weren’t dampened. Repeat attendees said a more modest crowd made for shorter beer lines.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Fireworks explode around the Tower of the Americas during the Valero Corner Stores Fireworks Extravaganza part of the Celebrate San Antonio event Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Fireworks explode around the Tower of the Americas during the Valero Corner Stores Fireworks Extravaganza part of the Celebrate San Antonio event Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Fireworks explode around the Tower of the Americas during the Valero Corner Stores Fireworks Extravaganza part of the Celebrate San Antonio event Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Fireworks explode around the Tower of the Americas during the Valero Corner Stores Fireworks Extravaganza part of the Celebrate San Antonio event Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Fireworks explode around the Tower of the Americas during the Valero Corner Stores Fireworks Extravaganza part of the Celebrate San Antonio event Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Fireworks explode around the Tower of the Americas during the Valero Corner Stores Fireworks Extravaganza part of the Celebrate San Antonio event Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Fireworks explode around the Tower of the Americas during the Valero Corner Stores Fireworks Extravaganza part of the Celebrate San Antonio event Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Fireworks explode around the Tower of the Americas during the Valero Corner Stores Fireworks Extravaganza part of the Celebrate San Antonio event Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Fireworks explode around the Tower of the Americas during the Valero Corner Stores Fireworks Extravaganza part of the Celebrate San Antonio event Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Fireworks explode around the Tower of the Americas during the Valero Corner Stores Fireworks Extravaganza part of the Celebrate San Antonio event Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Fireworks explode around the Tower of the Americas during the Valero Corner Stores Fireworks Extravaganza part of the Celebrate San Antonio event Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Fireworks explode around the Tower of the Americas during the Valero Corner Stores Fireworks Extravaganza part of the Celebrate San Antonio event Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013.

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Frank Sanchez drinks a beer during the Celebrate San Antonio event held Monday Dec. 31, 2012.

Before the fireworks show, Frank and Tracy Pantuso of Boerne and Dave and Cathy Hazzard of San Antonio stocked up on bead necklaces and padded, sequined hats. Within minutes they were posing for cellphone photos.

Hazzard said he and his wife persuaded their friends to come out to celebrate surviving the Mayan apocalypse.

“It's one big party.” Hazzard said. “Everybody has a good time and there's no hassle.”

Closer to the HemisFair Park entrance, Jordan Jackson, 17, of Somerset, spotted the perfect people-watching locale for her mother, Toni, and brother, Tyler, 14, to set up their folding chairs.

Toni Jackson said the family has come for the past three years because it's cheap and she enjoys playing tourist for the day in the city. Tyler said his favorite part of the night is noshing on a hot dog with bacon.